Allahabad HC Seeks UP Govt Response on Student’s Plea for ₹51,000 Prize Money Won in District Painting Competition
By Rajesh Pandey
The Allahabad High Court has sought instructions from the Uttar Pradesh government on a writ petition filed by a student who claims she has not received the prize money awarded to her for securing first place in a district-level painting competition organised by the state’s Culture Department.
The matter came up before a Division Bench comprising Justice Saral Srivastava and Justice Garima Prashad, which directed the state counsel to obtain instructions from the concerned authorities regarding the payment of the prize amount.
The Bench has listed the case for the next hearing on April 23.
The writ petition has been filed by Diksha Mishra, a student participant, who approached the High Court alleging that, despite being declared the winner of the competition, the prize money has not yet been disbursed to her.
According to the plea, the Culture Department of the Uttar Pradesh government organised a series of events under the Seva Pakhwada-2025 programme between September 17 and October 2, 2025.
As part of the initiative, a district-level painting competition was held in Prayagraj on September 29, 2025.
Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted before the court that Diksha Mishra secured first position in the senior category of the competition, for which a prize amount of ₹51,000 had been announced.
However, despite the lapse of several months since the declaration of results, the prize money has allegedly not been paid.
Taking note of the submissions advanced on behalf of the petitioner, the Bench, in its order dated April 9, directed the Additional Chief Standing Counsel representing the state government to seek instructions from the competent authorities and place the relevant information before the court on the next date of hearing.
The matter will now be taken up afresh on April 23, when the state government is expected to clarify its stand regarding the release of the prize amount.
The case highlights concerns regarding implementation gaps in government-sponsored cultural programmes, particularly where recognition and incentives promised to young participants remain pending despite official announcements.
( Image of the girl is AI-generated)
